Every decade, since 1867, the Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church, has a gathering of all the ordained Bishops. As the Anglican Communion is an international association of national churches and not a governing body, Lambeth Conferences serve a collaborative and consultative function, expressing ‘the mind of the communion’ on issues of the day. Resolutions which a Lambeth Conference may pass are without legal effect, but they are none the less influential.

The Anglican Communion came from the Roman Catholic faith and from the Anglicans came forth the Methodists, the Presbyterians, and even the Baptist denominations. The Anglican Communion is more or less the forerunner faith community of the reformation movement. There is no single “Anglican Church” with universal juridical authority as each national or regional church has full autonomy. As the name suggests, the Anglican Communion is an association of these churches in full communion with the Church of England (which may be regarded as the “mother church” of the worldwide communion) and specifically with the first among equals of all the Bishops, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The status of full communion means that there is mutual agreement on essential doctrines. But this year, is a crossroads discussion in Christianity about what fully defines one as a Christian….especially those in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. Continue reading →

Readers we want to welcome to the local political blogosphere The Arkansas Project. Grant you they say about themselves : “The Arkansas Project blog launched in July 2008 as a source for incisive commentary and reporting on Arkansas politics, media, and more.” However, as you can see by their regular contributors, they are a conservative ideology and political perspective. Thats okay, as the National Review is a wonderful publication, and well written, though it’s very biased in a conservative stance. Still welcome to the block, gang, and we hope you stick around for a regular discourse with Blake, Matilda, Pat, Max, Steve, and I. Continue reading →

A critical point has come out about Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia. While aesthetically yesterday we talked about the positives of an Obama-Kaine ticket. However, critically, the Obama campaign has to ask itself, do they risk antagonizing the Pro-Choice wing of the Democratic Party? Kaine’s record, for all the positives, influenced by his faith and other reasons is decidedly anti-choice. After 8 yrs. of an anti-choice virulent administration….do the Democrats risk alienating that base further by placing an anti-choice running-mate a heartbeat away from the Presidency? Continue reading →

Its seeming more and more likely that Governor Tim Kaine (D-Va.) will be the running-mate with Senator Barack Obama (D-Il.) Seeing the two of them together brings back the memories from 1992 and the very successful Clinton-Gore ticket. Why mess with a formula if it works? Clinton-Gore inspired youth, energy, and the future just like an Obama-Kaine ticket would. It would sharply contrast with an older nominee who picks a younger face as a running-mate….aka Bush-Quayle or McCain-Jindal/Palin/Portman/Fiorina. But theres other key reasons why it makes sense for Obama to tap Kaine and how it can help the Democratic Party. Continue reading →

John McCain’s campaign has been playing about a Vice Presidential choice was ready to be announced. This happened mainly during the recent Barack Obama overseas tour. The attempt was to take the news media away from Obama. However, the result is McCain is beginning to look indecisive. But this isn’t the first time a Presidential candidate has tried to use the Vice Presidential selection to drive the media this way and ended up having it backfire. Continue reading →

This is the image John Edwards wants everyone to think of when they see him. The loving father of three children and devoted husband to a beautiful wife who is sadly dying slowly of cancer. Continue reading →

Sanitation workers face injury on the job and potentially death because of an unsafe enviroment. Low wages and even lower benefits but a high demand to take care of the garbage and refuse of a major metropolitan area in the deep South. Threats, intimidation, and all that goes with it. Continue reading →